Ravens QB Joe Flacco and Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, two of the best players that would have hit NFL free agency, have new long-term deals. Eight other players, including the Bears' Henry Melton and Cowboys' Anthony Spencer, got franchise tags. Another, Tony Gonzalez, decided against retiring and re-signed with the Falcons.

With all that in mind, here is Sporting News' updated top 50 available free agents.

Miami needed a bona fide No. 1 big-play threat for second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and Mike Wallace fits the profile. Although re-signed Brian Hartline had a breakout season as a starter, he can't cause cornerback nightmares the same way Wallace can as the league's fastest receiver.

Jenningsbattled through an injury-riddled season. When he returned late, he showed his familiar impact as a well-rounded, route-running ace. He gives the Vikings a No. 1-type receiver, which was especially necessary with Minnesota recently shipping Percy Harvin to the Seahawks.

Welker will be the Broncos' primary slot receiver, fitting nicely between fine young outside starters Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. He should have little trouble making the transition catching passes from one Hall of Fame quarterback, Tom Brady, to another, Peyton Manning. Although Welker will turn 32 in May, it's a "youth movement" for Denver at the position, as he's a huge upgrade over 36-year-old Brandon Stokley. Not only does Denver add another dangerous weapon, it also takes one away from New England, a fellow AFC offensive powerhouse.

Seattle's defense is strong at defensive tackle, linebacker, safety and cornerback, but Pete Carroll needed a lot more pass-rush pop from a pure 4-3 defensive end. Avril, the best such player on the market, was an amazing coup for the Seahawks, considering they already landed another huge former NFC North prize (wide receiver Percy Harvin) to address their biggest offensive need. Avril has produced 20 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons. The only knock, much like 2012 first-rounder Bruce Irvin, he doesn't give Seattle much against the run. Luckily, with players such as Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane they are set in that area, and Avril can allow Irvin to go into a more situational role if needed.

Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano likes physical players, and Goldson is one of the NFL’s hardest-hitting safeties. Goldson and Mark Barron give the Buccaneers an elite safety duo, important for a defense that ranked last against the pass last year.

Long, the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, will anchor the Rams' offensive line as their new left tackle. A four-time Pro Bowl selection and an All-Pro in 2010, Long has been slowed by injuries the past two seasons. He missed four games in 2012 because of a triceps tear that required surgery.

Re-signing Talib, the team's top corner, was considered a key factor in the Patriots' title hopes for next season. He made the most of his opportunity with New England after he was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay on Nov. 1. He brought stability and shutdown ability to a struggling Patriots secondary. Talib has the size (6-1, 205) and skills to match up against top receivers—and that's exactly what he'll be asked to do in 2013.

His ability to match up one-on-one takes pressure off the rest of the secondary and allows the team to be more aggressive in blitz packages.

Jackson, 29, is slightly younger than the veteran power workhorse he's replacing, the released Michael Turner. The difference is the Falcons are getting him when he's older, and Jackson comes to them with a lot more wear, as Turner was behind LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. Is Jackson set to have an Adrian Peterson-like impact for Atlanta? No. But he does the trick of a hard runner who can finish in the red zone, and that's all they need to buoy Matt Ryan and the team's explosive passing game.

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Value: Reed isn't the same playmaker at 34, and injuries have become a factor. But there's no denying the future Hall of Famer has plenty to contribute to the right scheme and team.

What to expect: The Ravens want him back but might not be willing to meet his price. He would be an ideal pickup for the Colts and coach Chuck Pagano, Reed's former defensive coordinator with the Ravens.

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Bush is not a workhorse back, but most effective as an open-field runner and receiver. He can fill that role with the Lions, combining with Mikel Leshoure (798 yards last season) to give the Lions an effective one-two punch.
Learn more— Bush by the numbers | Lions team page

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13. Paul Kruger, OLB, Baltimore Ravens

New team: Cleveland Browns

Going to new defensive coordinator Ray Horton's aggressive 3-4 scheme, the Browns needed an impact edge rusher. Paul Kruger, just 27 and standing at 6-4, 270 pounds, had 13.5 sacks in 20 games last season, including the playoffs. Cleveland intended to spend big money in free agency, and this was a good start. As a bonus, the Browns take him away from AFC North rival and reigning Super Bowl champion Baltimore.

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Value: The Patriots love their 6-8, 315-pound rock at right tackle, and they know he has the talent to become a top left tackle if that's where they need him in the future. Vollmer has equal value to fellow free agents Wes Welker (signed with Broncos) and Aqib Talib (re-signed by Patriots).

What to expect: The Patriots chose not to use the $9.8 million franchise tag on Vollmer. They will now focus on striking a long-term deal before he gets free.

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Moore is one of the game's most versatile safeties, with 11 interceptions and 200 tackles over the past three seasons. The Falcons made him a priority and made sure he wasn't going anywhere with a five-year, $30 million deal. He also doesn't turn 28 until May.

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Value: He is 31 and had a drop-off in pass-rush production in 2012. Still, many teams hope to upgrade their pass rush, and he's a well-established sack artist.

What to expect: He doesn't want to return to the Giants, and he stirred up trouble by saying he would fit nicely with the cross-town Jets. Umenyiora is a cheap alternative to the younger ends on the market.

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Upgrading their line was a priority for the Titans, believing it would help both running back Chris Johnson and quarterback Jake Locker play at a higher level. At 26 years old, Levitre will be spending his prime seasons on a Titans team that needs his talents.

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Loadholt (6-8, 343) is one of the biggest and most powerful offensive linemen in the league. Loadholt has not made the Pro Bowl but has proved to be very durable (he missed only one game in his first four years).

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Smith can move into the Chiefs' lineup opposite Brandon Flowers, and the Chiefs also added Dunta Robinson, who can play both corner and safety, in free agency. With Wes Welker moving into the AFC West, the Chiefs need all the quality corners they can get. Smith, who's just 25, is a nice addition.

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Bushrod went to back-to-back Pro Bowls watching over Drew Brees' blind side in New Orleans. Now he'll get the opportunity to do the same in Chicago for Jay Cutler, only without the same kind of reliability from his fellow linemen. Bushrod is easily a better left tackle than J'Marcus Webb, but at 6-5, 315 pounds, he is by no means an elite player despite the all-star status. At least Bushrod knows he'll have the same line coach, as he followed former Saints offensive assistant Aaron Kromer to the Bears. Kromer did a great job developing Bushrod from a 2007 fourth-rounder into a solid starter.

When the Patriots didn't want to spend what it took to keep Wes Welker from bolting to the Broncos, they turned quickly to Amendola, a fellow sub 6-foot receiver best suited for the slot who also happened to be an undrafted player from Texas Tech. It's unreasonable to assume Amednola, even when healthy, can put up the same kind of numbers right away and immediately find the great chemistry Welker had with Tom Brady. Tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are now the Patriots' primary targets, and it's more reasonable to expect Amendola to be a complementary No. 3.

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Keller makes up for the Dolphins losing tight end Anthony Fasano in free agency. Although Keller never became the elite tight end the Jets hoped he would, he has been a productive player when healthy. Working the middle of the field between Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline, and catching passes from Ryan Tannehill, will be a plus for Keller.

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The Broncos needed to improve their secondary depth and also start preparing for a future without Champ Bailey, who turns 35 in June. Rodgers-Cromartie was a good buy for them, as he's coming off a disappointing season in Philadelphia. When the Eagles acquired him as part of the Kevin Kolb trade from Arizona, they were expecting the promising playmaker he was as a 2008 first-round pick of the Cardinals. At 6-2, 182 pounds and 27 (his age on April 7) he brings nice size along with a good nose for the ball when he's on his game. The Broncos like what they have in Chris Harris, but he's better off working the slot as a nickel back. They will hope DRC can rediscover his strong, physical coverage skills and, in the short term, become a solid starter opposite Bailey.

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Hartline's speed was put to use with rookie Ryan Tannehill, as the 26-year-old produced a career-high 74 catches for 1,083 yards. Miami brought him back with a five-year, $30.775 million deal ($12.5 million guaranteed).

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Lewis couldn't pass up a chance to return to the city where he grew up, and reports are he gave a bit of a "hometown discount" in choosing New Orleans. The Saints were wise to choose the 26-year-old, because he has blossomed into a solid all-around cover man. His size (6-0, 208 pounds) was most attractive to New Orleans; the former Steeler will be able to handle the bigger receivers in the NFC South.

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When healthy, Phillips is an impact safety, strong in run support and solid in pass coverage. He has been plagued by knee problems, but the Eagles' secondary was terrible last season, and Phillips is only 26 years old—he was worth taking a chance on.

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Myers might not be flashy or dominant, but he is a solid enough all-around player to be the starting tight end for the next several years for the Giants, who needed a pass-catching end with the free-agent departure of Martellus Bennett. Myers doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear on his body for a fourth-year player, so there’s no reason to think he can’t improve.

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Ellerbe's addition by Miami was a bit of a surprise—until the team released starting middle linebacker Karlos Dansby after the signing. Ellerbe will make the transition from a 3-4 inside 'backer sharing duties with future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis to being the man in Miami. The undrafted find from Georgia, just 27, is up to the task with his range and playmaking ability. Ellerbe busted out with 92 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2012. He also can hold up well in pass coverage.

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Bennett gives the Seahawks another pass rusher, joining Cliff Avril. Bennett, 27, collected a career-high nine sacks last season. In Seattle, he could move inside and provide pressure from a tackle position in pass-rush situations. Bennett briefly played for the Seahawks as a rookie in 2009 before being claimed off waivers by the Bucs.

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The Cardinals will give Mendenhall, who has experience playing in head coach Bruce Arians' offense from their days together in Pittsburgh, every opportunity to win their feature back job. Arians made it clear he wanted a workhorse runner in Mendenhall's mold and isn't worried about his backs being a big factor in the passing game. After the team released Beanie Wells earlier in the week, it needed a viable veteran option to pair with promising youngster Ryan Williams.

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Washington lost a key cog for Robert Griffin III when Davis was lost at midseason with an Achilles' tendon tear. The Redskins want to keep this athletic receiver, and the franchise tag of $6.5 million is a reasonable route to take.

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The Lions’ defense was bad last season, but Houston was their best corner and losing him would have been a blow. Look for Detroit to upgrade its secondary through the draft and free agency, but keeping Houston was a good start.

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Jared Cook will become a key intermediate receiving threat for quarterback Sam Bradford. It was clear that coach Jeff Fisher, who coached Cook in Tennessee, loves his potential as an athletic difference-maker at the position. He didn't quite produce that way for the Titans, so it will be on Fisher and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer—who did good work with similar player Dustin Keller with the Jets—to involve Cook enough to make him succeed. Cook is a big upgrade over Lance Kendricks and sets up as a good complement to young wideouts Chris Givens and Brian Quick.

Bryant played 4-3 tackle for the Raiders, and in the Browns' 3-4 attack scheme, expect defensive coordinator Ray Horton to take full advantage of his versatility. At 6-6, 311 pounds, he has the size that should remind Horton of his ace lineman with the Cardinals, end Calais Campbell (6-8, 300). Then again, Horton might look at Bryant like a Darnell Dockett type—either way, he gives Horton options. The combination of Bryant and former Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger adds much-needed pass-rush pop for Cleveland.

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Phillips keeps on producing; he shook off a foot injury to show some of his familiar pass-rush pop. His leadership skills give him added appeal. If Phillips, 31, doesn't return as a situational player for coordinator John Pagano in San Diego, watch out for the other Pagano in Indianapolis.

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Cox was hamstrung for a good chunk of the 2012 season, but he is a solid cover man with playmaking flair; he had four interceptions. His size (6-1, 190 pounds) and youth (age 26) certainly interested San Diego.

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Baker is an athletic left tackle who has been above average in protecting Matt Ryan, but that's about it. Though he's not overpowering at 6-5, 301 pounds and is a durability risk, the Falcons are bringing him back.

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When Chris Johnson needs a blow, Greene will give the Titans a viable alternative to pick up yardage between the tackles. This is the most effective role for Greene, who does not have the speed or elusiveness to be a true No. 1 back.

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He teased the Lions as that next great safety, but injuries and inconsistency kept him from putting it all together. Delmas could be a low-budget solution to another team's search for a rangy free safety.

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He's 33 and coming off a hamstring problem, but this veteran's versatility as an end/tackle for a multitude of schemes has appeal. Oakland is likely to move on from Seymour considering Matt Shaughnessy must be re-signed.

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He's 34, he has a history of injury problems and his play has dropped off as a tackler and all-around playmaker. But he's still Brian Urlacher, and his career should end in Chicago (assuming his price is fair).